Improvement in signal-flags



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Signal Flag.

Patented Jan. 2.1855.

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" Signal Flag.

No. 12,140. Patented Jan. 2,1855.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. ROGERS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT lN SIGNAL-FLAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 12,140, dated January2, 1855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. ROGERS, of Baltimore, in the State ofMaryland,have invented an Improvement in SignatFlags; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe principle or character which distinguishes it from all other thingsbefore known, and of the usual manner of making, modifying, and usingthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention consists in a mode of making signal-flags and in arrangingthe symbols thereon so that the same flags will answer for signals in aperfect calm as well as in high wind, and at the same time are not soapt to be mistaken as the calm-signals in universal use at this time.

The various signal-flags now in use have one great defect which it isdesirable and important to obviate, and that is but few of the flags canbe recognized during calm or light winds. Consequently the flags are oflittle use under such circumstances. The great difficulty has been indistinguishing the flags from each other during a calm or where there isnot sufficient wind to display their distinctive features to theobserver. This applies to all codes with which I am acquainted, and inthe best codes but few of the flags can be recognized in calm weather.Therefore they are useless under such circumstances, and resort has tobe had to hoisting of balls, cones, hexagons, cylinders, and similargeometrical figures composed of light wood frames covered with paintedcanvas or bunting, which get foul of the vessels rigging while beinghoisted and cause delay and annoyance in making signals. My improvementovercomes all these difficulties, and I therefore name them Rogerss Calmand Storm Signal Flags.

The flags for which I claim a patent aremade .as shown at a.

square, or nearly so, and by referring to the drawing it will beobserved that the symbols or distinguishing-marks of five of the flags ab c d e are placed diagonally, the symbols forming a distinct mark in acalm similar to those exhibited by the flags in a stiff breeze. The flagmarked a, it willbe seen,is composed of blue andwhite stripes or symbolsarranged alternately andvforming angles with the top of the mast, andwhich meet each other at their base when the flag drops duringa calm,The same applies to flags b c d e, which are fully illustrated as theyappear in a calm. It will be seen that each of these five flagspossesses adistinctive character and all agree in the common principleof construction, and that they may be used with or without the aid ofother flags or symbols and according to any arbitrary or conven tionalsystem of signaling. The universal code of signals of Captain Marryattin general use throughout Europe has labored under the Want of areliable calm-signal flag, and with the help of these new diagonalcalm-flags I am now preparing an entire code of signals for the UnitedStates.

Flagsf, g, h, and 2' are some of those used in the universal code ofCaptain Marryatt, and these areoshown as they appear in a calm at f, g,h,and r, whereit is evident that the symbols of the several flags arechanged in character and cannot be relied upon, as they run through avariety of changes, according to the strength of the wind.-

WVhat I claim as my invention is The square signal-flag with diagonalsymbols, so that the same flags shall answer for signals in a high windand in a calm, as set forth.

HENRY J. ROGERS. Witnesses:

SOLUNI CAMPBELL, HENRY WATERMAN.

